Teams & Riders The Remco Evenepoel is the next Eddy Merckx thread

[Cookster15]

Wow, this kid really does seem amazing. Regarding his climbing potential, yes we haven't really seen this yet but he only weighs 61Kg and now we know he's a TT beast. That means sky high watts per Kilo. I don't see why he wouldn't be great on climbs.

 

[Cookster15]

I think riders/teams would have to be a special kind of stupid to let this kid get 10 minutes–for them to assume he won't be able to climb with the best is a...questionable assumption IMO.

I agree its a questionable assumption. He's only 61Kg and just won a TT ahead of confirmed TTers like Alex Dowsett and Yves Lampaert . Some Watts per Kilo estimates would be interesting.

 

[Red Rick]

I don't like that idea. Imagine him being in the top 5 at the end of the second week.

Yeah it's weird. Andy Schleck finished 2nd in a Giro at 21.

Evenepoel would not be a regular 20 year old, he could finish a GT just fine.

I think it's more likely Lefevre was trying to temper expectations

 

[Red Rick]

Wow, this kid really does seem amazing. Regarding his climbing potential, yes we haven't really seen this yet but he only weighs 61Kg and now we know he's a TT beast. That means sky high watts per Kilo. I don't see why he wouldn't be great on climbs.

How certain do we know he's only 61kg?

 

[tobydawq]

Isn't this "letting our young rider not finishing the Grand Tour" used because young riders tend to not be physically strong enough to complete a Grand Tour without completely fatiguing themselves?

That would clearly not be the case for a rider who is at the top echelon of the sport, regardless of whatever age he may possess.

 

[Cookster15]

How certain do we know he's only 61kg?

Well I think we can be as certain about that as anything else. Why else would you quote that weight on Wiki ?

 

[red_flanders]

How certain do we know he's only 61kg?

Like anyone else I don't think we know what he weighs, and weights are as you suggest, often...altered for effect? That said, is there any doubt this is a really small guy with a ton of power?

 

[RedheadDane]

Well, I don't think we can trust Wiki 100%... according to "them" - and PCS - Evenepoel is only one CM shorter than Affini. Looking at the podium photo, I'm having a hard time believing THAT.
(Though I think the mistake might be with Affini's height.)

 

[hayneplane]

Paris-Nice seems ideal, can murder the climbing specialists in the early flatter crosswind likely stages, extend the lead in the time trial then at least match up well in the climbs that tend not to be Vuelta style steep.

Certainly a chance he could emulate the mid range solo attack win of his teammates Bob Jungels in Liege.

I think most people would have accepted it as a decent first year if his high points had been top 5 in Turkey and the excellent efforts in the Belgium Tour but now he seems to be showing improvement every team he pins on a race number so for the rest of the season everything is a bonus for him and us.

The very best were not racing today but he destroyed a very credible field and on his current form curve you would not bet confidently against a top 5 or even medal in the elite ITT worlds.

 

[hammerthaim]

Quick time and big time gaps. Really impressive. Kung and Asgreen coming off the tour were probably a fair bit off their best

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

He told a reporter that today, he was pushing more watts the entire time, than what was scheduled.

How certain do we know he's only 61kg?

Well, I don't think we can trust Wiki 100%... according to "them" - and PCS - Evenepoel is only one CM shorter than Affini. Looking at the podium photo, I'm having a hard time believing THAT.
(Though I think the mistake might be with Affini's height.)

He said so himself. The article he said it in, is in this very topic (first 20 pages). He talks about it and says he already lost 9kg since he quit football. This was supposedly his weight for Innsbruck. After that, he gained 2.5-3 kg earlier this season (during San Juan), which is where the comment by Lefevre came from ("Remco is too fat"). Which in turn provoked a response by Remco, saying he has no intention to start dieting in order to get skinny, before he was physically fullgrown. It's possible he has lost a bit of weight again, but he likely isn't going to be skinnier than that.

As for the Affini info, this seems to be very very dated.

 

[Panda Claws]

He is basically Levi from Attack On Titan.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1159446149620731904

View: https://twitter.com/BELCyclingTeam/status/1159446149620731904

 

[Flamin]

https://www.wielerkrant.be/nieuws/2...-en-zijn-ouders-zullen-hun-woord-nooit-breken

Lefevre and Evenepoel "shook hands" on an additional 2 year contract (so up until 2022). He'll now go check things out in Andorra with Alaphilippe to see which is the better option to move to. There, or Monaco.

 

[hayneplane]

Just looked at the odds for the 2020 Tour de France and incredibly one bookmaker is offering just 33/1 on Remco winning the tour GC next year yet they price Quintana at 66/1.

 

[spalco]

Just looked at the odds for the 2020 Tour de France and incredibly one bookmaker is offering just 33/1 on Remco winning the tour GC next year yet they price Quintana at 66/1.

It's a stupid bet because it's extremely unlikely Evenepoel will compete in the Tour next year. But if he did, I would seriously take a bet him winning over Quintana.

 

[Gigs_98]

I think it's very well possible Remco would go nowhere even with a 10 minute lead. It's just that there are riders that are way too unpredictable to give them 10 minutes. He might as well turn up at the first mountain stage and climb with the very best and considering what we have already seen from him I even doubt people would be overly shocked about it.

 

[Salvarani]

Isn't this "letting our young rider not finishing the Grand Tour" used because young riders tend to not be physically strong enough to complete a Grand Tour without completely fatiguing themselves?

That would clearly not be the case for a rider who is at the top echelon of the sport, regardless of whatever age he may possess.

I think he and other young riders would be physically strong to finish a GT, but pushing your body everyday takes a toll on your psyche too. Not just the obvious physical aspects. I think the mix of both might not be too good for a young rider to endure too early. Most young riders wouldnt have too much pressure or expectations the first time riding a GT. For Remco that would not be the case. Therefore it might be best to wait a little. Let him have a go at the Vuelta next year imo, but if he firing in the spring next year. They might consider sending him to the Tour if outside influence too strong I guess. Maybe in support for Ala and stage hunting.

 

[jaylew]

I guess we'll have to wait for Jancouver's confirmation on that.

He's hanging out with dirkprovin somewhere.

 

[Son of Amsterhammer]

It would be a shame to see him burn out too quickly. Hopefully 1 week races next year and a GT the year after that. Certainly, it would appear that he has everything to indicate a GT contender pretty early on.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Interview with his Dutch DQS coach Koen Pelgrim on Sporza. Feel free to run it through google translate:

Coach over progressie Evenepoel: "We moeten nu niet alles omgooien" | sporza

Een neoprof moet in zijn eerste jaar bij de grote jongens doorgaans leren en stelen met de ogen, maar Remco Evenepoel (19) duwde die wet de voorbije weken naar de prullenmand. Sporza sprak met Koen Pelgrim, trainer van Evenepoel bij Deceuninck-Quick Step, over de ontwikkeling van de diamant...

sporza.be

Remco has lost 3kg babyfat the last few weeks. (The article suggests this is compared to earlier in the season, when he was 3kg heavier than last year, so he should "again" be +/-61kg)
They didn't focus on losing weight, it was just a result of circumstances.
The team did not expect these improvements regardless of his talent.
They don't want to change too much in his planning/training because things are going better than expected.
What he's doing currently is not as important, they want to see him at the highest possible level in 3 to 4 years.
Weight loss, altitude camp, training schedule and natural progression are the reasons for his current form.
Mentally very strong. Doesn't get impressed too easily (also in reference to Lefevre's remark about his weight back in february).
Tour de Romandie was a good learning experience since he got to experience it was harder than expected.
Scoring in one week stageraces will be the main goal next year.

Not in this article, but another newsfeat: Lefevre said if he wants to compete at the olympics, that he can go (the team will not hold him back). Eventhough Lefevre doesn't see any commercial value in it (eh?).

 

[wheresmybrakes]

Do you all think that DQS would be the ideal place for Remco to become a decent GT rider if they couldn't do much for Mas, who was supposedly the next Contador? I think they could do well with him in the classic type of races and maybe 1 week races but they don't have a decent squad for GT races.

 

[DNP-Old]

Do you all think that DQS would be the ideal place for Remco to become a decent GT rider if they couldn't do much for Mas, who was supposedly the next Contador? I think they could do well with him in the classic type of races and maybe 1 week races but they don't have a decent squad for GT races.

Mas had done one solid Grand Tour, in September, when all the good riders are already off the market. More so, we're yet to see the best of Mas and whether he is worth flipping over a team and signing riders for. Remco is only 19. As he develops, so can Quick-Step in the Grant Tour department. Their reinforcements don't have to come immediately. They can make a slow transition in signings and/or develop them. Bagioli, who is really, really good himself, could jump in in the future for instance.

 

[Red Rick]

Evenepoel having lost weight makes a lot of sense then.

Do you all think that DQS would be the ideal place for Remco to become a decent GT rider if they couldn't do much for Mas, who was supposedly the next Contador? I think they could do well with him in the classic type of races and maybe 1 week races but they don't have a decent squad for GT races.

Mas broke through at DQS, which spells good for Evenepoel.

DQS have plenty of coverage on different races to keep pressure of Evenepoel to win GTs in the next few years.

Only problem I see for DQS is Evenepoel's worth will burn through a budget at alarming rates the older he gets. DQS don't have infinites amount of money like another team.

 

[del1962]

Evenepoel having lost weight makes a lot of sense then.


Mas broke through at DQS, which spells good for Evenepoel.

DQS have plenty of coverage on different races to keep pressure of Evenepoel to win GTs in the next few years.

Only problem I see for DQS is Evenepoel's worth will burn through a budget at alarming rates the older he gets. DQS don't have infinites amount of money like another team.

Evenepoel should bring in extra sponsorship for the Belgium Team if he lives up to his undoubted potential though.